It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
